Improvement in game-boards



Patented Feb. 18, 1237-3'.V

lNvENTDR,

AM. EnommwasRAPmcca,Ndasaonuspnocass) STATES PATENT OFFICE..

GILBERT l. ELLIOTT,()F BOSTN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNCR TO HIMSELF AAND FREDERICK MORRILL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN. GAME-BOARDS.

To all who'nz'itmay concern: u v

Be it known that-I,*GILBERr R. ELLIOTT,

of' Boston, in the county of S'ufolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a; new and 4Improved Apparatus to be used in Playing Games `for .amusement and recreation; and that the following description, taken infcon-` neetion with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof is a full, clear, andi exact specification of the construction of the paratus `and of lits mode andv'manner of use. The object of vthis invention is to provide au apparatus with which games may be played for amusement and recreation, and in the acy companyingplate of drawing the apparatus embraced by this invention is illustrated- Figure l being a top view of the revolving disk of the improved game-board; Fig. 2, a perspective view ofgthe same Fig. 3a top view; and Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of the board. Fig. 5 isa view, of the centerpin.

The apparatus embraced herein is constructed of three elements; first, a bed or board, A, that, concentric witha given centerpin, a., has indicated upon it, by stamping, printing, or otherwise, divisions or spaces B. Each division B is distinguished from the others by a character-asfor instance, a letter of the alphabet, or` otherwise-and-eaeh is provided with a series of sentences or answers, c, which, under anyone division, B, lare pertinent to a question in common with all the answersfas, for instance,'question,

Will 1 succeed in mypresent undertaking???- answers, Beyond your expectations, No5 vou wlll not succeed, &c.` These sentences C, grouped asA stated, are arranged within the clrcleot' spaces B, and each sentence is onY a radlal hneof the board-center, and each is i numbered or otherwise marked to distinguish it from the others ofthe same group-as for instance, iigures from one upward,- and the severalfgroups are similarly marked.

Second, a` circular disk, D. This circular disk is ofa'size that, it' it be placed on the board A above described, the sentences C arrangedon said board A are entirely covered or concealed fromview, aud the characters used to mark theseveral divisions B of the board `A,as well also asthose used to distinguish the sentences one from another, are exposed to view. This disk D at its center is placed upon the center-pin a of the board A, and in vradial lines with such center. The disk D is divided into a series of spaces, E, that are each marked with a character-as, for instance, a figure corresponding to those employed for'distinguishiug the separate sen tences C of the groupv of sentences ou 'the board. The disk also has a-radia1 slot or opening, b, through it, that is of suitable length and location that, if it be brought over any one'` of the radially-arranged sentences on the board A, such sentence will be exposed to view for being read. In line with the slot b the disk D, rat its periphery or edge f, has a defined pointfg, by which the disk can be set to any given one of the characters used to mark the sentences onV the board A, the reading of which is desired. In addition to the above, there is arranged on the disk a series of questions, F, distinguished by characters similar to the characters on board A, under which sentences as answers are grouped, and the question under each character is pertinent to answers on the board under a similar character. These questions can be left oi of the disk D, and arranged on a distinct sheet from the apparatus. I

Third, an index-handvol' pointer or arrow, G. lThis arrow Gr is placed on the center-pin ot' the board, to be revolved or whirled with the hand.

In the-apparatus shown by the drawing, letters of the alphabet, from A to X inclusive, are the characters employed to distinguish or mark the groups oi' sentences or answers on the boa-rd, and corresponding letters are employed on the diskDagainst the several ques` tions thereof-that is, the letter A, or B, or C, Ste., against the question pertinent or appropriate to thel answers Vou board A, under the same letter. Figures from 1 to 6 inclusive are employed to distinguish the several an swers ot' eachgroup of answers in vboard A,V and, correspondingly, the divisions of disk D are at least six in number, and each division is marked with a gure of the several iigures stated, and that figure diderent from any of the other divisions. Y

The apparatus above described I call Zadkiels Mystic Circles, and it is used as follows z" Suppose the question Have I any or many enemies@ of the disk to be selected as one to be answered by the Mystic Circles. Noting the letter against such question, which, in the present instance, is E, spin the arrow G with the hands, and when it stops note the number of the spaces E of disk at which the arrow points, which suppose is l. Now turn the disk around, and bring its'point or mark g to No. l cf the numbered answers or sentences to space E of the board A, and the sentence ot' board A, exposed by the slot b, is the answer, which is You are your own worst enemy. Selecting any other question of the disk, and proceeding as before, an answer will be obtained to it, the apparatus thereby aiording amusement, recreation, pleasure, and wondel-ment.

The board Ait is intended to make ot' woodblack walnut being preferable-but other materials may be employed; and the preparation ot' the board described will be by means of a sheet that is properly printed with the characteristics required; although, as is obvious, other modes could be adopted, as, for instance, by stamping directly upon the board the characteristics; but the mode stated is the most practical and cheap. 1

The disk D is to be made ot card or pasteboard, or other suitable sheet material, and the arrow of any suitable metal or other' material.

Although questions have been herein and by the drawing located on the disk l), it is apparent their location has no connection whatever with the apparatus or its 'use described; but, obviously, by the described location otthem space is economized and compactness secured.

In audition to the features of the apparatus above described, I have combined with them still another feature, by which another game can be played, and this game I denominate (Jrcmorne.7 This additional feature is in the arrangement of spaces or divisions H in a concentric ring, I. These spaces are fort-yeighrt in number, and are numbered in periods of tives, as, for instance, 0, 5, l0, 15, Smc.

In the playing ot' Cremorne the arrow is used, and, as devised by me, is played as follows-two, three, or four persons can play: When played by two persons each person is to employ two menf meaning by men the same as in the play of draughts or chess; but when three or four persons play each person is to have one man only. The several men are to be suitably designated bycolor, or form, or otherwise, to be known readily from each other. rlhe game is commenced by one of the players spinning the arrow, and, after it has stopped, placing his man on the space of the ring I corresponding in number to the number' ofndisk `D at which the arrow stops; as, for instance, suppose the arrow to stop at 6, then his man is placed on the sixth space, counting from space 0. Another player then spins, and places his man as before stated, and so on for each player, when the first to play again plays, and then the second, third, Snc., each player, upon each successive play, running'his man along over the spaces of the board a number of spaces thereof equal to the number of disk at which the arrow points at each successive spin of the arrow by the player; and the first to thus complete the series of spaces (the several players playing in turn) is the winner or victor.

It' a player in making a play nds the space occupied by the man of another player then such man is to be removed, and the player to whom the same belongs, in his next play, is to begin again at the zero-space; or, i-n other word, start his man afresh.

When a player has his man rin a space beyond space 25, if such man should, by a movement ot' another player, be removed the player to whom such man belongs is to commence at space -25 in lieu of 0, as before;

When only two persons are playing it is to be optional whether the player advance his man already on the board or place his other man on the board, and the game is won when both men of a player have completed the circuit. Y

The game ot' Cremorne has no connection whatever with the Mystic Circles, one being played independently of the other; but the combination of Cremorne with the apparatus increases its utility and versatility. l

The spaced circle for Gremorne may be arranged on the disk D, but it isprefcrable as described.

I desire it to be distinctly understood lthat I do not intend to limit my claim to the combination of the Gremorne spaced circle with the Zadkiels Mystic Uircles; and, also, it may be well to here observe that the arrow may be ixed, and the disk spun instead; but the ar rangement described is preferable. A

Having thus described my invention, l shall state my claim, as follows:

The board A having center-pin a., arrow G, and the divisions or spaces B, each division containing characters arranged and distinguishablc from the others, as shown, in the described combination with the disk D having the series of spaces E, slot b, and point g,

the whole constructed and arranged as herein shown, and operating a-s and for the purpose specilied.

GILBERT R. ELLIOTT.

Witnesses: v

FRANKLIN EMERY, JOSEPH BENNETT. 

